While dengue is no longer a seasonal threat, there is no denying the fact that with the arrival of the monsoon rains, dengue is at its most dangerous around this time.
This is the time when the Aedes mosquitoes breed, and this must be the year we recognize that we must put an end to this perpetual cycle of suffering as a result of this disease.
Every year, there are warnings, rising infections, overwhelmed hospitals, and preventable deaths. This reactionary approach to dealing with this disease must end.
Dengue has already proven its capacity to overwhelm our hospitals, strain medical staff, and devastate families. No more fogging after outbreaks, or awareness campaigns after infections spike. No more hospital preparedness only once wards are already full.
Prevention is spoken of repeatedly, but rarely practiced with urgency. This has to change. Vector control must be systematic, not symbolic. City corporations must enforce accountability in cleaning drains, removing stagnant water, and monitoring breeding sites.
Public awareness must go beyond slogans, equipping citizens with practical steps to protect their homes and communities.
Hospitals must be prepared, and capacity must continue to be built. Adequate beds, testing kits, and trained staff will be required every year, and with the increased health budget, there is no longer an excuse to not address this shortcoming.
We must reiterate that dengue cannot be taken lightly. It is a test of our governance, of whether authorities can act before the deaths spike to the hundreds and the thousands once again. We must treat dengue as the crisis it is, not as an annual inconvenience.